Beckham may prove a liability for Highbury showdown

Share via

MANCHESTER UNITED are a better attacking side without David Beckham at present and I cannot see how Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, can contemplate playing the England captain in the most important league match of the season against Arsenal tomorrow.

It’s not a coincidence that United’s convincing performances against Liverpool and Newcastle United came when Beckham did not start. In between those matches, Beckham floundered as Real Madrid swamped United.

Ferguson’s side pose a different type of threat when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plays on the right-hand side of midfield. Beckham’s strengths are pinging in crosses, his athleticism and his free